Monitoring food habits and food security Australia 1995-96

Examines a study which aimed to obtain data on food security and a limited number of food habits to determine the extent of differences, in food habit and food security, between major sub-groups within the Australian population. Current until 1 June 1997.

Summary of main findings

Type of milk usually consumed

Just over half (54%) of the Australian population aged 18 years and over reported usually consuming whole fluid milk. The proportion was higher among men (60%) than among women (47%).

The population sub-groups with the highest proportion usually consuming whole milk were the unemployed, those renting their dwelling and those aged 18-24 years (63-65%).

The population sub-group with the highest proportion usually consuming reduced fat or skim milk was that living in South Australia (56%).

On average 4.5% of Australians aged 18 years and over reported not consuming any milk.

Trimming of meat

Three out of four Australians aged 18 years and over (76%) reported usually trimming the fat from their meat. The proportion was higher among women (80%) than men (72%).

The population sub-group with the lowest proportion (66%) usually trimming their meat was the unemployed. The proportion was also well below the national average in those aged 18-24 years (69%) and in those living in single person households (69%).

On average 3.7% of Australians aged 18 years and over reported not consuming any meat.

Number of serves of vegetables per day

Less than one in five Australians (16%) reported usually consuming at least four serves of vegetables per day.

The population sub-group with the ,highest proportion (22%) meeting the currently recommended intake (2 4 serves per day) was that aged 55 years and over. The proportion usually consuming at least four serves of vegetables per day was also well above the national average in those in the lowest quintile of household income and in those not currently in the labour force (21%).

Only 9% of those aged 18-24 years reported usually consuming at least four serves of vegetables per day

Number of serves of fruit per day

Just over half (51%) of all Australians aged 18 years and over reported usually consuming at least two serves of fruit per day. The proportion was considerably higher in women (58%) than in men (43%).

The population sub-group with the highest proportion meeting the currently recommended intake (2 2 serves per day) was the group aged 65 years and over (62%).

Only 39% of those aged 18-24 years and 39% of those living in Northern Territory reported usually consuming at least two serves of fruit per day.

Almost one in ten of the unemployed (9.5%) reported not usually eating any fruit.

Food security

On average 1 in 12 Australians aged 18 years and over reported having run out of food at some time during the last 12 months and not having enough money to buy more (food insecurity).

The population sub-groups who reported the highest level of food insecurity were the unemployed (23%) and those living in households renting their dwelling (20%).

The population sub-groups who reported the lowest level of food insecurity (<3%) were those aged 55 years and over, those in households where the dwelling was owned and those from households in the highest quintile of household income.

Food habits index

While the food habits index used in this study remains to be evaluated in relation to actual levels of food and nutrient intake it did provide a useful summary measure for assessing the proportion of the Australian population aged
18 years and over whose food habits were largely consistent with (score of ≥9), or inconsistent with (score of ≤5), key dietary recommendations as well as for
identifying population sub-groups with high and low proportions of such individuals. Using this index the data from the PSM surveys can be summarised as follows:

Approximately 1 in 8 Australians aged 18 years and over had a score of five or less and 1 in 4 a score of nine or more.

The population sub-groups with the highest proportion of scores ≤5 were the unemployed (21%), those in households 'renting their dwelling (21%) and those aged 18-24 years (18%).

The population sub-groups with the highest proportion of scores ≥9 were those aged 55 years and over (35%) and those in part-time employment (32%).

Significantly more women (32%) than men (19%) had a score of ≥9 and significantly more men (14.6%) than women (8.5%) a score of five or less.